Improvement in steam rotaby-valves



@uitrit tetra 'atwt @frn Louis Bacon, or SAN,Harrelson-CALIFORNIA. Laim Patent No. 71,267, .naar November so, 1867.

h IMPROVEMENT 1N STEAM ROTARY-VALVES.

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l l TO ALL WHOM IT MAY GGNCERN:

Be it known that I, Louis BEGON, of San Francisco city, San Francisco county, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Balance-Valves; and I do hereby declare the following description and accompanying .drawings are suieient to enable any person skilled in the art or 'science to which it most nearly appertains to make and use my said invention or improvements without further invention or experiment.

The nature of my inventionI is to provide an improved valve for steam-engines, which is so constructed as sw to be exactlybalanced, and move with the least possible friction. It also relates to cutting oi the steam at any "`\\xlesired point, so that it may be expansively used for a greater or less portion of the stroke. A

In order to accomplish this, I construct a valve, formed like the frustnm of a cone. This valve is placed in a ease which it fits steam-tight, and which has ilanges, by which it is bolted to the sides of the steam-chest, the case in which the valve moves being entirely surrounded by steam. The valve and its case have openings at the sides, so as to allow the steam to 1circulate freely through it. The valve, which .is 'supported at each end, may be moved by an ordinary eccentric, or by a cam, by which it is made to revolve so far as to admit steam to the passages connecting with one end of the cylinder, from opposite sides of the valve at the same time, while the ports, which open to theother end of the cylinder, also on the opposite sides of the valve, are closed, thereby making the pressure on one side of the valve counteract that on the other. The valve has an arm, which allows the end of the eccentric-rod to be moved to a greater or less distance from the centre of oscillation, 'thuso'pening the'ports to a greater or less degree, as required.- When a cam is used to move the valve, it is placed on the shaft in such a position that, by its motion, the valve will be completely opened at once, and, by a second cam, it will be closed at any point at which it is desired to cut oit" steam from the cylinder, these ,quick motions being rendered possible by the perfect balance of the valve. l y

To more fully explain my invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, of which l Figure 1 is a front view of the valve and case.

Figure 2, a vertical section of the valve and case.

Figure 3 is a top view. v

A is the valve, which is conical in form, and of suihcient length/to cover the ports. B and B are the pas* sages in the valve, through which the exhaust-steam passes ateach alternate motion of the valve. a' a a a are the valve-faces, which may bc proportioned to the size of theports, as may be found most effective. b b are openings in the sides of the valve, corresponding with similar openings in the case, through which the steam in the'chest is allowed to pass freely to the interior of the valve, the ends of which are tight. The case C is of the same form of the valve, so that it will iit steam-tight, the position of the valve being regulated by the supporting-screws D and D', at each end, so that there will be the least possible friction. The case has anges E and E', by which it may be fastened to each side of the steam-chest. The ports F and F connect, by suitI able pipesd cl, with one end of the cylinder, and the prts G and G are similarly connected with the other end. II and H are the exhaust-ports. I is a curved varm attached to the end of the valve, to which the end of the rod which moves it is attached, either to the pin g, when 4the engine moves in one'direction, or to g', when it is to move in the other. These pins maybe moved to a greater distance from the centre of oscillation, by means of the governor, or otherwise, thereby giving the valve agreateror less throw, as desired. Y

The operation of my valve is as follows: When it is in position, so as -to cover all the ports, and admit no steam to the cylinder, the pressure exerted by the steam from itsinterior will be equal upon every side, so that the valve will not be pressed against'the case, in any direction, any more than if itwcre a plain, hollow cone, with a pressure exerted from the interior. i As the valve moves about 4its centre, so as to admit steamto the ports connecting with one end of` the cylinder, the pressure is 'removed from two points diagonally opposite in the valve, at the same` time, while the pressure in the direction of the remaining ports and the exhaust-passage remains; but, being at opposite points, still it is neutralized, and is of no cifect.

In manufacturing the' valve, the ports may be in the same plane, in order to equalize the pressure. To gain the greatest benefit from the lessening of the friction, the valve should be placed with its axis of revolution vertical, when the whole Weight will rest on the lower set-screw. These screws may be moved, so as to allow just enough friction to prevent the valve from leaking. The screw D passes through a. frame, lc, so attached that it een be eaeily repaired or removed.

My improved valve may be used in constructing new engines, or it may be applied to old ones, where the slide-valve has been used, and where three ports are used near the centre of the cylinder, and, where four ports (two at each end) are used, two valves may be' used, each forming half the system, und connected by an arm, so us 4to work together.

Having thus described my invention, what I elnim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-` The arrangement of the openings b b end two exhaust-passages B B', in the conical valve A, in combina tion with the ports F F', G G', and exhaust-ports H and H', in the ease C, substantially as described.

n In witness whereof` I have hereunto set my hand and'seal. v

L. BEGON. [1.. 5.]

Witnesses:

'0. W. M. SMITH, GEO. 11.6211110116. 

